When Bangladesh’s women’s cricket team, led by Captain Salma Khatun, defied expectations and clinched the 2018 ACC Women’s Asia Cup, the nation erupted in celebration. Their historic victory over India, the tournament’s perennial champions, ignited a wave of joy and pride across the country. As the spotlight turned to the winners, a question arose: How did this overlooked team become so successful? No one expected an underdog like Bangladesh to triumph over the undefeated India.
Officially debuting in 2007 and gaining ODI status in 2011, the team was a relative newcomer to international cricket compared to India, which had been a force in the sport since 1976. Their victory in the 2018 Asia Cup sparked national interest in women’s cricket. But should our wins be the only time we pay attention to our female cricketers?
If we do a recap of our women’s cricket team’s performance this year, they have played well with a few notable wins and losses. Earlier, they hosted the Australian team for their first-ever bilateral ODI series. On the pitch, the mighty Australian team’s confidence was undeniable, which reflected that they were accustomed to dominate. This is a team that has claimed seven Women’s World Cup titles and six T20 World Cup wins. Defeating such a powerhouse was a Herculean task from the start, and though Bangladesh lost all six matches, our Tigresses put up a commendable fight. Fariha Trisna, a 22-year-old left-arm bowler, made history as the first Bangladeshi to take a hat-trick against Australia.
The Australian tour put immense pressure on the Tigresses, with high hopes for a win. They lost the series, but as cricket analyst Annesha Ghosh puts it: “The team has been punching above their weight.”
Despite the losses, the team reached the Women’s Asia Cup semifinals. There are many more such instances that make me hopeful about the future of women’s cricket in Bangladesh. The recent losing streaks don’t accurately reflect the potential of our Tigresses. Many factors contribute to these results, but the talent and skill in the sport are still very much present.
One of the major challenges facing our women’s cricket team is the inadequate infrastructure, which fails to incentivise and support our players.
I attended the Australia vs Bangladesh series at Mirpur Stadium earlier this year, excited to see the Australian team play at home. However, the experience was disappointing; the ticketing system was unclear, and we entered for free after a long wait. I was informed by the stadium staff that the plan, apparently, was to determine ticket sales based on crowd turnout at the last minute. This was my first time attending a match featuring the national women’s cricket team, and I wasn’t expecting this attitude from the management. My experience made me question their preparation and commitment to promoting women’s cricket. The gallery crowd’s attitude mirrored the country’s broader disregard for women’s cricket, with many dismissing it as not a ‘real sport.’ Throughout the match, I observed that only a handful of spectators showed interest in supporting the players.
Our women’s cricket team deserves more from both fans and management. These national players, hailing from humble beginnings and under-resourced backgrounds, have overcome immense barriers at every stage to reach where they are today – earning the respect they deserve.
What can we do? We can learn from the successes of Australia and India. Both teams have dominated the women’s cricket scene. Australia has produced athletes like Ellyse Perry, while India has Harmanpreet Kaur, a village girl turned cricket star. The solution is simple: invest in grassroots sports facilities, ensure financial security for players through contracts, and create a system that encourages young girls to pursue cricket as a profession, which requires more sports facilities across the country for female athletes.
Australia’s Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) and India’s Women’s Premier League (WPL), which attracted $500 million in private investments, are prime examples of leagues advancing women’s cricket. These leagues provide a professional platform that showcases talent, fosters competition, and enhances player skills. Proper investment in women’s cricket in Bangladesh will not only lead to success for the national team, as seen with Australia and India, but also encourage young girls to view the sport as a viable profession and create opportunities for the next generation of women cricketers.
The squad for the ICC T20 World Cup showcases a balance of seasonedathletes like Nahida Akter, Jahanara Alam, Murshida Khatun, and Fahima Khatun, alongside fresh talents like Shorna Akter, Marufa Akter, and Rabeya Khan. Among them, 19-year-old Marufa Akter made a significant impact in her first ODI against India, taking four wickets in seven overs and playing a crucial role in Bangladesh’s historic first ODI victory against India, earning the Player of the Match award in 2023.
Like many of her teammates, Marufa’s journey has not been easy; her father is a farmer, and financial challenges have significantly impacted her ability to pursue the sport at times.
As a cricket-crazy nation, it is a disservice to our women cricketers that the existing infrastructure fails to adequately support them. The future of women’s cricket rests with the next generation of talent. Young Nigar Sultana Joty, who played a key role in winning the ACC Women’s Cup in 2018, now leads the team as captain, while emerging stars like Marufa have the potential to bring home more trophies in the coming years. With sustained investment and support, the future of women’s cricket in Bangladesh is not just promising; it has the potential to thrive and inspire countless young athletes.